Football matches and football news seem a lifetime ago now doesn’t it. Here we are on the last day of March and instead of either celebrating being Champions, or on the verge of being crowned Champions, we are in the middle of this unprecedented, viral pandemic nightmare. It goes without saying that in times like this, football takes a back seat. I think everyone realises that – no matter what team you follow. Or play for for that matter. Having said that, we can still take the odd trip down Memory Lane and recall better days in years gone by. On that note then, let’s have a quick look at what happened on this day 31st March in yesteryear.
On This Day 31st March 1975
In chronological order. On this day 31st March 1975 we suffered a big blow to our title hopes when we lost to Stoke City, 2-0 at the Victoria Ground. As the season’s title race was so tight, it proved to be a significant defeat.
Derby County, managed by Dave Mackay, won their second title in fours seasons when they finished just two points ahead of Liverpool.
The final table was very tight. Derby won the title as already said, with a total of 53 points. Liverpool and Ipswich finished 2nd and 3rd respectively on 51 points. Closely followed by Everton on 50 points and Stoke City and Sheffield United on 49 points.
It’s worth remembering, it was 2 points for a win in those days.
On This Day 31st March 1984
Better news on this day 31st March 1984. A debut goal from John Wark as we beat Watford 2-0 at Vicarage Road. The midfielder, signed from Ipswich for a fee in the region of £450,000 opened the scoring just before the hour mark. Ian Rush added a second with just 10 minutes to go.
We went on to win the League that season. And not only the League. We also won the League Cup and the European Cup to crown an exceptional season for Joe Fagan in his first season in charge.
As it happens, I was at Notts County when we clinched the title with a 0-0 draw at Meadow Lane. Quite a drab affair if I recall with probably more than half the attendance being Liverpool fans.
Another significant feature of this particular season was Manchester United finishing 4th. Nothing too surprising about that you may think. Especially considering Liverpool’s dominance during this era. But it was significant though as for almost all the season Liverpool and Manchester United were neck and neck. So much so that United manager, Ron Atkinson, famously declared during the run-in that the title was a two horse race!!!
The jokes about “who came 4th in a 2 horse race?” were bandied about for years.
Still vivid memories.
On This Day 31st March 1986
Two Steve McMahon goals, one in each half, gave us a 2-0 victory against Manchester City at Anfield. This version of Manchester City back in the 80’s was of course pre-dodgy oil money, so they weren’t anywhere the force they are today.
Having said that, the 2-0 win did avenge a 1-0 defeat at Maine Road on Boxing Day, so Citeh were no mugs. This victory on this day 31st March however set us off onto a title winning seven consecutive wins run in the League.
In fact it was the season we won the Double. Kenny Dalglish’s first season as player/manager, we won our only domestic League and FA Cup double. To really put the icing on the cake of course, we beat Everton in the FA Cup Final and they finished second in the League, two points behind us.
West ham finished 3rd, also two points behind Everton on 84 points. In 4th were again Manchester United. Although this wasn’t a “who finished 4th in a 2 horse race?” campaign.
A great season though all told.
Finally On This Day 31st March 2019
A freakish Toby Alderweireld own goal in injury-time at The Kop end gave us a 2-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. Bobby Firmino gave us the lead in the 16th minute with Lucas Moura equalising in the 70th minute. A deserved win nevertheless.
The three points kept us right in the hunt for the title. As we all know though, our huge points haul of 97 points still wasn’t enough to clinch our elusive first title for 29 years.
On the whole, a pretty impressive run of results on this day 31st March spanning 39 years. Three wins and one defeat. And two league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and two European Cups to celebrate at the end of those respective seasons. That’s what I would call impressive.
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